The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
1940, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch though more consistent actually than the previous years. Of which 'The Magic Pencil', another Gandy Goose cartoon with Sourpuss, is one of the high middle ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the better 1940 cartoons. It is a decent cartoon if not much special at the end of the day, with the second half letting it down after a promising start. 'The Magic Pencil' is also worth the look, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation in movement and sound is neat.
A number of well timed and amusing moments, some really neat and inventive drawing touches, some imaginative and there is lots of zest and natural charm. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done, actually thought the first half was great. The supporting characters are great fun, especially the villain. Sourpuss gets more amusing and more interesting with each cartoon and Gandy has actually grown on me. In his solo outings he wasn't very appealing and was pretty bland, but once his chemistry with Sourpuss got going he became funnier, more interesting and more likeable.
Outside of the backgrounds and more fluidity than seen previously however, a few of the transitions are not always polished.
A few of the gags later on are not as fresh or as well timed and the second half as has been said already becomes far too predictable and melodramatic, seen many times in the 30s Terrytoons melodrama cartoons, and it jars with the imagination and fun seen in the first half. 'The Magic Pencil' is definitely a case of a cartoon with two halves to the extent it feels like two cartoons in one, one better than the other.
Overall, decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox